Restaurant Review: Hy's Steakhouse

 

Working downtown, you can’t help but roam the Core Shopping Centre from time to time. Everybody needs a break now and again. However late last year I couldn’t help but notice that there was some major construction on the main floor of the mall and wondered what new amazing shop was going to be opening. How surprised was I when I found out that Hy’s Steakhouse was returning to Calgary! I still remember their old location and how everybody went there and knew they’d be served a delicious steak. So needless to say, I definitely stopped by to grab a bite when they opened.

Atmosphere: A nouveau modern interior with a dining area which opens up to the grill room, where you can witness the steaks being cooked in all its glory. The perfect combination of new and old school.

Price Range: $20s - $40+

Food & Wine: One can find all the great classics served at Hy’s like tableside Caesar salad and Banana’s Foster, so we couldn’t wait to indulge. To start we opted out of the aforementioned Caesar due to my entrée selection and went with the Wedge Salad. I really enjoy the freshness of wedge salads and find that they’re not offered much on menus anymore. This version had a creamy thousand island dressing with hints of blue cheese, adding a bit of punch to the iceberg lettuce and bacon combination. It was a great refreshing way to start off the meal.

I was excited for my main because I ordered the Steak Diane, which means tableside flambe of the steak. The beef tenderloin filet is cooked with Dijon and fresh mushrooms, lit up with brandy and then served with fresh green beans and potatoes. It smelled amazing when it was being prepared and I was excited to taste it. Since I like my steaks rare, I was surprised that the filet remained quite tender cooked to medium. The flavour of the steak wasn’t compromised but instead elevated with the mushroom brandy cream sauce. It was definitely a decadent dish.

The hubby couldn’t pass up ordering something from the grill and got the Bone-in Rib Steak. We both really enjoyed the char on the steak and it was cooked to a perfect medium rare, which allows the fat to melt and flavour the meat. Served with your choice of side, we decided on the fresh vegetables to balance out the protein heavy meal. We opted out of the Bananas’ Foster for dessert, seeing as I already got tableside service for the evening and decided on the Brioche Bread Pudding instead. It was soft and moist, perfect with the crème anglaise (a light syrupy custard aka English cream). The bread pudding wasn’t overly sweet and was a perfect ending to the heavier main courses that we had.

Wine for the evening was the Frog’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, a good balance for the various dishes in our meal. The wine was dark and fruity with hints of coffee and chocolate notes. Medium bodied, with rich tannins and a full finish. There are many great wines available on Hy’s extensive wine list and the hardest part is deciding which one you want to order.

My Picks: Steak Diane

Overall: It’s great to see old landmarks in Calgary reinventing themselves without losing their identity. Hy’s Steakhouse has always been known for great steaks and that’s what they’ve continued to do. Only now, you also get to enjoy their luxurious dining area and lounge. What a great way to change things up.

Hy’s Steakhouse
751 3 Street SW
Calgary, AB
(403) 663-3363
Website: hyssteakhouse.com

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